Astronomers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for astronomers in the U.S. is $128,820 ($61.94 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $128,820
- Mean annual wage
- $132,920
- Median hourly wage
- $61.94
- Employment
- 2,120
2,120 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,010 | $37.50 |
| 25th percentile | $99,920 | $48.04 |
| Median (50th) | $128,820 | $61.94 |
| 75th percentile | $166,000 | $79.81 |
| 90th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
Highest-paying states for astronomers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $132,620 | 980 |
| Arizona | $129,020 | 100 |
| Virginia | $128,930 | — |
| California | $123,540 | 110 |
| Hawaii | $102,000 | 100 |
Lowest-paying states
- Hawaii: $102,000 median annual wage
- California: $123,540 median annual wage
- Virginia: $128,930 median annual wage
- Arizona: $129,020 median annual wage
- Maryland: $132,620 median annual wage
About this occupation
Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.
Typical tasks
- Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
- Review scientific proposals and research papers.
- Measure radio, infrared, gamma, and x-ray emissions from extraterrestrial sources.
- Develop and modify astronomy-related programs for public presentation.
- Teach astronomy or astrophysics.
- Raise funds for scientific research.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 20.9% |
| Master's degree | 24.2% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 55.0% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.